Uav configurations and battery augmentation for uav internal combustion engines, and associated systems and methods

Abstract

UAV configurations and battery augmentation for UAV internal combustion engines, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A representative configuration includes a fuselage, first and second wings coupled to and pivotable relative to the fuselage, and a plurality of lift rotors carried by the fuselage. A representative battery augmentation arrangement includes a DC-powered motor, an electronic speed controller, and a genset subsystem coupled to the electronic speed controller. The genset subsystem can include a battery set, an alternator, and a motor-gen controller having a phase control circuit configurable to rectify multiphase AC output from the alternator to produce rectified DC feed to the DC-powered motor. The motor-gen controller is configurable to draw DC power from the battery set to produce the rectified DC feed.

1 .- 56 . (canceled) 
     
     
         57 . A system for powering an electric motor for a vehicle, the system comprising:
 one or more outputs configured to couple the system to the electric motor;   an electrical input configured to couple the system to an alternator powered by a source of mechanical movement;   one or more energy storage devices; and   one or more controllers programmed with instructions that, when executed, control operation of the source of mechanical movement;
 control flow of electrical current between the alternator and the one or more energy storage devices; 
 control flow of electrical current between the one or more energy storage devices and the one or more outputs; 
 control flow of electrical current between the alternator and the one or more outputs; 
 control flow of electrical current between the alternator and the one or more energy storage devices while controlling flow of electrical current between the one or more energy storage devices and the one or more outputs; 
 control flow of electrical current between the alternator and the one or more energy storage devices while controlling flow of electrical current between the alternator and the one or more outputs; and 
 control flow of electrical current between the alternator and the one or more outputs while controlling flow of electrical current between the one or more energy storage devices and the one or more outputs. 
   
     
     
         58 . The system of  claim 57 , further comprising:
 the source of mechanical movement, wherein the source of mechanical movement converts a fuel to the mechanical movement;   the alternator, wherein the alternator converts the mechanical movement to electrical current; and   a rectifier coupleable to the alternator for rectifying the electrical current.   
     
     
         59 . The system of  claim 58 , wherein the rectifier comprises one or more transistors configured to rectify alternating current to direct current. 
     
     
         60 . The system of  claim 58 , wherein the rectifier comprises one or more diodes configured to rectify alternating current to direct current. 
     
     
         61 . The system of  claim 58 , wherein the source of mechanical movement comprises an internal combustion engine. 
     
     
         62 . The system of  claim 58 , wherein the fuel is a liquid fuel. 
     
     
         63 . The system of  claim 57 , further comprising an electronic speed controller coupleable to the one or more outputs to control a speed of the electric motor by regulating electric current supplied to the electric motor. 
     
     
         64 . The system of  claim 57 , further comprising the electric motor. 
     
     
         65 . The system of  claim 57 , wherein the vehicle is an aircraft, and wherein the electric motor is configured to drive a rotor. 
     
     
         66 . The system of  claim 57 , wherein the one or more energy storage devices comprises one or more batteries. 
     
     
         67 . The system of  claim 57 , wherein the one or more controllers are programmed with instructions that, when executed, switch among a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation, wherein the first mode of operation comprises controlling flow of electrical current in a first manner, and wherein the second mode of operation comprises controlling flow of electrical current in a second manner different from the first manner. 
     
     
         68 . The system of  claim 57 , wherein the one or more outputs is configured to provide direct current to the electric motor. 
     
     
         69 . The system of  claim 57 , wherein one or more controllers are programmed with instructions that, when executed, direct flow of electrical current from the one or more energy storage devices to the alternator to commutate the alternator. 
     
     
         70 . A system for powering an electric motor for a vehicle, the system comprising:
 a first power source coupleable to the electric motor and configurable to provide power to the electric motor;   a second power source coupleable to the electric motor and configurable to provide power to the electric motor, wherein the second power source consumes fuel carried onboard the vehicle; and   one or more controllers programmed with instructions that, when executed:
 control flow of electrical current between the second power source and the first power source; 
 control flow of electrical current between the first power source and the electric motor; 
 control flow of electrical current between the second power source and the electric motor; 
 control flow of electrical current between the second power source and the first power source while controlling flow of electrical current between the first power source and the electric motor; 
 control flow of electrical current between the second power source and the first power source while controlling flow of electrical current between the second power source and the electric motor; and 
 control flow of electrical current between the second power source and the first power source while controlling flow of electrical current between the first power source and the electric motor. 
   
     
     
         71 . The system of  claim 70 , wherein:
 (a) the first power source comprises one or more energy storage devices; and   (b) the second power source includes an alternator or generator, wherein the second power source consumes the fuel to produce mechanical movement for the alternator or a generator.   
     
     
         72 . The system of  claim 71 , wherein second power source comprises an internal combustion engine. 
     
     
         73 . The system of  claim 71 , wherein the second power source comprises the alternator, and wherein the alternator is configured to produce multiphase alternating current. 
     
     
         74 . The system of  claim 73 , further comprising one or more transistors configured to rectify the multiphase alternating current to produce direct current for the electric motor. 
     
     
         75 . The system of  claim 73 , further comprising one or more diodes configured to rectify the multiphase alternating current to produce direct current for the electric motor. 
     
     
         76 . The system of  claim 70 , further comprising a third power source, wherein the first power source comprises a first energy storage device and the third power source comprises a second energy storage device, wherein the second power source is coupleable to the second energy storage device to charge the second energy storage device while first energy storage device provides power to the electric motor. 
     
     
         77 . The system of  claim 70 , wherein the one or more controllers are programmed with instructions that, when executed, throttle the second power source to control the power from the second power source. 
     
     
         78 . The system of  claim 70 , wherein:
 the vehicle is an aircraft;   the aircraft comprises a rotor coupled to the electric motor; and   the system further comprises an electronic speed controller for controlling the electric motor to generate thrust for the aircraft.   
     
     
         79 . The system of  claim 70 , wherein the second power source comprises an alternator, and wherein the first power source is coupleable to the second power source to commutate the alternator. 
     
     
         80 . The system of  claim 70 , wherein the fuel is a liquid fuel. 
     
     
         81 . The system of  claim 70 , wherein the first power source comprises one or more batteries. 
     
     
         82 . A control system for an aircraft, the control system comprising one or more controllers programmed with instructions that, when executed:
 control flow of electrical current between a first power source and one or more energy storage devices;   control flow of electrical current between the one or more energy storage devices and one or more propulsion systems associated with the aircraft;   control flow of electrical current between the first power source and the one or more propulsion systems;   control flow of electrical current between the first power source and the one or more energy storage devices while controlling flow of electrical current between the one or more energy storage devices and the one or more propulsion systems;   control flow of electrical current between the first power source and the one or more energy storage devices while controlling flow of electrical current between the first power source and the one or more propulsion systems; and   control flow of electrical current between the first power source and the one or more propulsion systems while controlling flow of electrical current between the one or more energy storage devices and the one or more propulsion systems.   
     
     
         83 . A propulsion system for an aerial vehicle, the propulsion system comprising:
 a propulsion rotor;   an electric motor coupled to the propulsion rotor to drive the propulsion rotor to create thrust for the aerial vehicle;   an alternator connectable to a source of mechanical movement, wherein the alternator is configured to produce multiphase alternating current;   a rectifier coupled to the alternator to convert the multiphase alternating current to direct current;   an electronic speed controller coupleable to the rectifier to receive the direct current and power the electric motor; and   one or more energy storage devices coupleable to rectifier to receive the direct current.   
     
     
         84 . The propulsion system of  claim 83 , wherein the source of mechanical movement consumes fuel. 
     
     
         85 . The propulsion system of  claim 83 , wherein the rectifier comprises one or more transistors configured to rectify the multiphase alternating current to produce the direct current. 
     
     
         86 . The propulsion system of  claim 83 , wherein the rectifier comprises one or more diodes configured to rectify the multiphase alternating current to produce the direct current.